Category: Travel

Located at a height of 4270 metres or 14,200 ft, the beautiful village of Kibber in the Spiti Valley in Himalayas has the distinction of being the second highest motorable village in the world. It lies in the state of Himachal Pradesh in northern India. The village is best known for it’s scenic beauty and attracts a lot of tourists and adventurers throughout the year.

Landscape:
The landscape is similar to that of Ladakh and Tibet. Kibber rests admist picturesque mountains, barren landscape and green meadows

Life of the people:
Kibber is small village with total 77 families residing. It has a population of 366 of which 187 are males while 179 are females (as per Population Census 2011). The village has around 80 houses which are made of stone instead of mud or adobe brick used extensively elsewhere in the Spiti valley, making them unique. Kibber has a civil dispensary, a high school, a post office, a telegraph office and a community TV set in the village. The culture, too, is similar to that of Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism is the predominant religion. Agriculture is the backbone of the local economy. People also have other occupations such as animal husbandry, jobs in government programs, government services, and other businesses & crafts that include weaving. Villagers count on the 3 day traditional trade route over Parang la to Ladakh to barter their horses for yaks or to sell for cash.

How to reach
There is a bus from Kaza in the afternoon, which returns from Kibber to Kaza early in the morning. Shared jeeps are also available. Hiring a jeep from Kaza taxi
stand costs ₹800 (as in the year 2012).

Where to stay
Don’t expect a luxurious stay at a hotel or resort in Kibber. Accommodation is limited to a few guest houses, Norling Guest House being the most popular. The locals provide rooms on rent for the tourists. Homestays are comfortable and affordable. Camping facilities are also available during summer.

What to eat
The options are very limited in Kibber. Guest houses or Homestays provide food on demand. Locals serve Tibetan, Indian and Chinese cuisine.

Highlights
The village is popular for it’s temples and monasteries. It is also known for the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary– India’s only wildlife sanctuary in a cold desert, which is located close to the village and houses many snow-dwelling animals such as Ibex, Blue Sheep, Red Fox, Tibetan Woolly Hare, Himalayan Wolf, Lynx, Pika, Tibetan Wild Ass, and Snow Leopard.

Kibber Village is a popular place among adventure lovers as trekking and mountaineering are the main attractions of the village. The high altitude and the stunning, pollution free atmosphere of Kibber is a boon for sky gazers and photographers, who get the most amazing pictures of the natural environment of the region.

Sanchayan Chakraborty from Kolkata shares his travel experience to Kasol with us.

Country: India

State: Himachal Pradesh

Best time for travel: Oct-June

Known for its Israeli inhabitants, Parvati river, trekking base-camp and Malana, Kasol is bestowed with all of nature’s blessings. This remote village is a blessing for adventure buffs, trekkers and backpackers. With pleasant climate all around the year and low population density, this wonderful place will give you an experience like no other. Being called the Israel of India, Kasol is filled with a mixture of India and Israeli culture that is worth a visit.

How to reach Kasol

By air: Almost 31 Kms away, Bhuntar Airport located near Kullu is the nearest airport to the village. It is connected to three cities Delhi, Pathankot and Shimla. You can hire local cabs or private vehicles from there to reach Kasol.

By road:The HRTC (Himachal Road Transport Corporation) runs regular buses from neighbouring states of Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. In the state itself they run to and fro from cities of pathankot, Shimla, Kangra, Solan and Dharamsala.

By train: Pathankot serves as the nearest railhead at a distance of almost 150 Km, while Chandigarh about 310 Km away is another option you can opt for. Taxis or private vehicles can be hired from here as well to reach Kasol.

Best places to visit in Kasol:

Malana Village: Also referred to as the ‘little Greece of India’, this serene location is a treat to the eyes and a mind soothing place to visit in Kasol. Malana is a small hamlet in Himachal that has self-isolated itself from the rest of the world. You can trek to this destination and explore the tranquillity of the place yourself.

Tirthan Valley: A 60 kilometres drive from Kasol takes you to this secluded heaven amidst the wild, called Tirthan valley. Tirthan valley is surely one of the best one-day getaway from Kasol and is a must visit to everybody that hit the land of Himachal.

Parvati River: River Parvati is one of the major attractions in Kasol for sightseeing and enjoying nature.

Tosh Village: Tosh is a green treat to the tourists that visit the place. The best way to get to this village is by trekking up the hill and witnessing the unreal amaze of this small township in Kasol.

Kheer Ganga Peak: Kheer Ganga is one of the easiest treks and also considered as the most joyous one. It is about 9 kilometres long and passes through easy trails that lead to the uphill.

Indulge in Israeli Food at the Best Cafes in Kasol

The hippie village offers you abundant options from Israeli, Italian, Chinese and Indian cuisines. Some of the popular cafes in the region are:

Nandi Hills, also known as Nandidurg or Nandi Betta is an ancient hill fortress situated in the district of Chikkabalapur in Karnataka. Situated near the town of Nandi, the ancient belief is that they are the origin of the Arkavathy River.

Scenic places of interest
At a height of 4851m above sea level, Nandi Hills is a favourite destination for all nature lovers and a popular picnic spot. It is the ideal getaway for you if photography is your passion and nature is your one true love. Striking scenery, rare flora, cool and crisp air and the peaceful atmosphere makes the hills a perfect holiday spot.

“It’s about 65km from Bengaluru, so it’s a two hour journey. It was a very wonderful experience”, says Shivam.

How to reach Nandi Hills

Nandi Hills can easily be accessed by road as well as by the rail as it is conveniently networked with the major cities in Karnataka including Bengaluru.

By air: The nearest airport is Hindustan Airport, which is about 42km away. Mysore Airport is 165 km away. From either airport, you can take a train or travel by road to the Hills.

By road: Drive to Nandi Hills from Bengaluru via the Bangalore- Hyderabad Highway. Other cities from which you can travel to Nandi Hills include Bellary, Mysore and Devanahalli. The nearest bus station is Nelamangala, which is 43km away.

By rail: The nearest train station is Oddarahalli which is 16km away. Dodballapur is 17km away from Nandi Hills and Chikkaballapur station is at a distance of 19km.

Sightseeing and activities in and around Nandi Hills

Sightseeing in Nandi Hills

Paragliding

Grover Vineyards

Bangalore

Places and Monuments

The Sultan of Mysore- Tipu Sultan

Tipu Sultan Fort in Bengaluru

Srirangapatna

Chitradurga

Temples in Nandi Hills

Bhoga Nandheeshwara Temple

Vineyards in Karnataka

Alpine Wineries

Elite Vintage Winery

Grover Vineyards

Hampi Heritage Vineyards

Myra Vineyards

Nandi Valley Winery

Yaana Wine

“The route was very thrilling. We were all scared but enjoyed the nature at the same time. The clouds were touching the hills, it was breathtaking”, adds Shivam.